Golden sunsets, late-night campfires, cozy flannel blankets, apple picking, pumpkin spice...an excited thrill rushes through my veins when that first gust of autumn sweeps over the prairie, leaving gold and crimson in its wake.

I always wonder if artists like me observe creation differently than most. Rather than simply marveling at a job well done, I look at God’s masterpiece and want to know how He pulled it off. The aspiring painter in me schemes how to imitate a grove of maple trees in acrylics. My writer’s heart smells campfire smoke and hears laughter and wonders how to capture that feeling on paper.

Every autumn, surrounded by fathomless color and a palpable sense of change on the wind, I want to gasp out loud. The pure, raw beauty of the world leaves me feeling so incapable, so inadequate, so awestruck.

I cannot count how many times I have stood in the middle of a pasture surrounded by wildflowers or stared up at the endless expanse of stars in a night sky and been left with an incredible assurance of my Savior’s power and an overwhelming realization of His goodness.

Then I remember—the same hand that crafted this breathtaking world crafted me as well. The same God who sets the atoms dancing knows me by name and calls me precious.

The love I have to offer in return seems feeble in comparison, yet not only does God accept my love, He wants it. I am His most intricate and beloved creation.

When I think about that for a long moment, feelings of discouragement and fear don’t stick to me as easily. I remember the God who made all things beautiful and good. I remember how He gave His life so that we could live with Him forever.

He invites us to come to Him, to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Take time to go outside, capture a sense of wonder, and remind yourself that the same God who breathed the stars into existence made you as well! • Anita Seavey

• When we feel forgotten, discouraged, or insecure about ourselves, how might marveling at the glory of God’s creation help remind us of who God is—and who we are?

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 (NIV)